AN annual review of the nation’s legal sector has seen eight law firms with offices in York ranked among the best in the region.

In its review of the Yorkshire market, this year’s Legal 500 cited Leeds as being the region’s “epicentre”, though said firms in York, alongside Harrogate and Bradford, are “popular options for SME clients”.

The 2017 report, published this week, noted eight firms with offices in York in its rankings of various areas of law.

Firms are ranked through tier ratings, ranging from one to six, with Howard & Byrne, in Lawrence Street, the only solicitors in York to receive a tier one rank.

Awarding the firm top status in the general crime division, as well as tier three ranking for fraud, the Legal 500 stated: “Kevin Blount heads the ‘excellent’ York-based Howard & Byrne crime practice, with Colin Byrne, who is a ‘real fighter’ and a ‘fearless solicitor to have in your corner’, leading the team on miscarriage of justice, bribery and corruption matters.

“The practice also has a prison law sub-department, headed by Jacky East and a courts-martial sub-department headed by Mark Whitfield.

“Recent highlights include representing a UK national standing before the Greek Courts on allegations of bribery and corruption.”

Lupton Fawcett, based in Piccadilly, appears in the report more than any other York firm, with 14 rankings for its York office, alongside more than 20 for its other offices in Leeds and Sheffield.

It performed particularly well in areas including employment, agriculture and estates, family, and professional negligence, achieve a tier two status in these areas.

Martin Frost, director in firm’s corporate team in York said: “We are delighted to see the efforts of our teams across the firm recognised in this year’s Legal 500.

“It is great to see 14 of our teams with a strong York base rank highly, with seven of these listed in a higher tier than any other York or North Yorkshire firm. This underlines the strength of our offering; our growing York-based teams can seamlessly draw upon expertise from across the firm.”

Langleys and Harrowells were also heavily represented, achieving nine and eight ranking respectively.

The York office of Rollits received four mentions, adding to a total of 17 for its Hull site, while Grays Solicitors in Duncombe Place received two.

Pryers and Paradigm family law each achieve one ranking.

Elsewhere, while Andrew Jackson’s York office failed to get a mention, its Hull offices achieved 15 recommendations, including six tier one rankings.